"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." – Khalil Gibran

A.S. Face 1135: Belle

Hi, my friends call me Belle. I’m 47 and living outside Boise Idaho.
My diagnoses, I was 28 and pregnant with my3rd daughter when my SI joint was giving me fits. My Ob said its sciatica and will pass. I was barely able to stand or walk. It did seem to go away after the baby but coming back. My family doctor kept saying “it a pulled muscle” or “you just need to loose weight”. After 4 yrs. of it my podiatrist (who took care of my flares of plantar fasciitis ) referred me to new family dr. There is family history of fibro and lupus so I got copy of Duke University book of arthritis. Nothing totally fit my symptoms till AS. I met new dr with xrays and said “I think I have AS” He asked why and then said” ok but you’re a woman so let me show you on xrays how I know you do not have AS”. We looked at xray and he sat stunned and said “wow, this is where your AS shows up”. I applied for disability and their dr did same thing. I was approved in less than 2mo. I’ve been told id be wheelchair bound by 2002, I’m still walking. I came into this world fighting and will go out same way.I don’t have a day without pain, but at least I’m alive and still going. My second oldest daughter (now 26) was just diagnosed this summer.